Ahhh, those midweek blues. Cured only by staring at soothing pictures of cruise ships all day. Well, that and a long, long nap.

Live the suite life with Celebrity Cruises in the South Pacific

Celebrity Cruises has launched an incredible Last Minute Luxury savings offer on an unforgettable 13-night South Pacific roundtrip out of Auckland on Celebrity Solstice, departing 16 March 2019.

The unique sailing includes maiden calls to Apia in Samoa, and Vavau and Nuku’Alofa in Tonga, together with calls to Bay of Islands, Lautoka and Suva in Fiji, offering cruisers ample opportunity to explore the most sought after highlights of the South Pacific.

And, for a limited time only, guests can enjoy the suite life with up to 60 percent off suites, which come with their own dedicated butler, priority check-in, an exclusive suites-only restaurant – Luminae, a private VIP lounge, as well as a long list of enviable amenities. Fares start from just AUD$3,999 per person, twin share for a Sky Suite.

Or choose to sail in a Balcony stateroom, priced from just AUD$1,999 per person twinshare, as part of Celebrity’s Last Minute Luxury deal.

Hurry, these prices won’t last. Offer is available until sold out. Terms and conditions apply.

Cunard Announces New Steakhouse Dining Concept

Luxury cruise line Cunard has announced the introduction of a new dining concept, ‘Steakhouse at The Verandah’, on board its three Queens – Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth.

Taking influence from both sides of the Atlantic, Cunard’s team of chefs have curated a menu that showcases prime USDA grain finished New York strip steak, Maine lobster and Alaskan king crab alongside dishes celebrating British provenance such as Scotch grass-fed, dry-aged beef and Salt Marsh lamb rack.  Grass-fed Wagyu beef from Australia also features on the menu.

The launch of the concept in the ships’ alternative dining restaurants follows the success of the new Steakhouse menu featured on board Queen Mary 2 last northern summer.

In addition to the new menu, a new selection of craft cocktails will be available at The Verandah bar, reflecting contemporary mixology trends from some of the world’s most dynamic cities. The wine selection has also been specifically chosen to focus on ‘steak heroes’ and features classic peppery Syrahs alongside more contemporary juicy Malbecs and rich Chardonnays.

Steakhouse at The Verandah will be open for lunch and dinner. Dinner reservations are pre-bookable on Cunard’s Voyage Personaliser or once on board, while lunch reservations will be available once on board. A US$25 per person cost will apply for lunch and US$39 per person for dinner, with some menu offerings requiring a further supplement.

The tale of tales: Silversea’s Silver Whisper sets sail on world cruise 2019 following extensive refurbishments

On Sunday 6 January, Silversea’s Silver Whisper set sail on her ‘Tale of Tales’ World Cruise 2019. Following extensive refurbishments and a hugely successful pre-voyage event, the enhanced ship welcomed World Cruisers aboard in San Francisco for the start of the 133-day voyage, including author Pico Iyer – the first of nine creatives who will enrich the World Cruise for Silversea’s guests.

During the ship’s recent dry dock, which lasted from 1-19 December 2018, Silver Whisper underwent a large-scale renovation as part of the fleetwide Musification strategy.

Silver Whisper’s initial refurbishment plans were revised and augmented following the launch of Project Invictus, Silversea Cruise’s long-term plan to enrich and enlarge its fleet.

With the comfort of guests in mind, all public areas and guest accommodation were enhanced to reflect the décor and style of flagship Silver Muse, which arrived in Australian waters this month. Upgrades included new carpets, curtains, furniture, mattresses, gym equipment and outdoor decking.

Enhancing Silver Whisper’s World Cruise 2019 further is the Tale of Tales theme, which will see nine celebrated creatives join the ship over the course of the voyage; each will illustrate their sailed segment by creating a work of art – either a written text, a photograph or another medium.

Saroo Brierley, whose extraordinary childhood experience was released as Hollywood blockbuster film Lion in 2016, starring Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel, will join the second segment of the World Cruise from Papeete, Tahiti to Sydney, Australia.  Silver Whisper will arrive in Sydney alongside Silver Muse on the morning of 2 February 2019, the first time that two Silversea vessels have docked together in Sydney in 20 years.

Find out more information about Silversea’s World Cruise 2020: https://www.silversea.com/destinations/world-cruise/world-cruise-2020.html

Spring into the new season with European Waterways specials

European Waterways is urging travellers to “spring into the new season”, offering up to 20% off charters and cabin prices on select cruises for European spring 2019. With the growing popularity of solo travel, the company is also waiving the single supplement on select cruises.

Among the hotel barges offering 20% off on charter and cabin prices is the 12-passenger La Belle Epoque, which cruises Burgundy, France. Itinerary highlights include private tasting of Chablis wines and Champagne at renowned establishments and “dining with the Baroness” at the magnificent Château de Ricey-Bas. Guests also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Abbaye de Fontenay, a major architectural example of the Cistercian order of “White Monks” who followed strict daily routines.

Guests can receive up to 20% off whole boat charters and 10% off cabin prices on the 8-passenger L’Art de Vivre, which also cruises Burgundy. Cruise highlights include a visit to Auxerre, a scenic port town that features elegant cathedrals towering above the skyline. Guest will also enjoy wine tasting excursions and visits to the hilltop basilica of Vezelay as well as a tour of the village of Noyers-sur-Serein, which offers cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, intimate squares and other small-village charms.

These specials represent savings of up to €11,640 (approx. AU$18,720) on charters and €2,140 (approx. AU$3,440) off on cabins, based on double occupancy. Specials are available on departures from March – July when booked by February 18, 2019. A complete list of eligible vessels, departure dates and applicable specials is available at https://www.europeanwaterways.com/special-offers/?y=2019.

Uniworld & U By Uniworld extend sale

Just in time for wave season, Uniworld and U’s Our Best Offer sale has been extended now through 31  March 2019 with added dates and even better fares.  Travellers can save up to 30% on over 360 departure dates across more than 40 different itineraries including:

• Magnificent Moselle & Rhine (10-days from $4,829): New in 2019, this itinerary sails from Cologne to Frankfurt offering a unique perspective on this German wine-making region.  Guests will enjoy the beauty of the Moselle River while discovering picture-perfect wine villages and Germany’s oldest town, Trier.
• Highlights of the China & the Yangtze (11-days from $5,279): This itinerary sails aboard a new ship for Uniworld guests in 2019 and the nicest ship on the Yangtze River.  Guests will visit the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Great Wall and see the natural beauty of the Yangtze’s Three Gorges.
• Enchanting Danube (8-days from $3,989): Guests will discover the best of Eastern and Western Europe onboard the luxurious S.S. Maria Theresa. They’ll experience fresh takes on classic sites, under-the-radar locales, and VIP access to places only a privileged few will ever experience such as a private early-morning viewing of the acclaimed art collection of the Kunstkammer Vienna.
• Gems of Northern Italy (10-days from$4,479): Guests will uncover the extraordinary hidden treasures of Venice and Northern Italy including an exclusive opening and lighting ceremony at St. Mark’s Basilica, the charm of seaside Chioggia, wine pairings at a historic wine estate and more.

Uniworld sailings are inclusive of meals onboard, beverages, immersive excursions, ship-wide internet and Wi-Fi, bicycles for use onshore, local expert guides and more.

On U, the modern way to river cruise, travellers can save on the new Northern France at a Glance itinerary, (8-days from $2,399 per person).

SALE DATES: Uniworld’s Our Best Offer has been extended now through 31 March 2019.

Earn bonus reward points with Viking’s Explorer sale incentive

For a limited time, travel agents who have signed up for Viking’s new loyalty program, Rewards by Viking, will receive 250 bonus points for booking their clients on a Viking ocean or river cruise.

Coinciding with Viking’s popular Explorer Sale, from now until March 31, agents will earn 250 bonus reward points for each Viking cruise that they sell — on top of the points that they would normally earn for selling a Viking cruise. These points can then be redeemed in the online Rewards by Viking store for a fantastic range of brand-name items, from electronics and sporting goods to beauty products and gift vouchers.

“Our Explorer Sale trade incentive is another way for us to show our dedicated travel agents just how much we appreciate their hard work and support,” said Erin Kramer, Trade Marketing Manager at Viking.

“Since the launch of Rewards by Viking in November last year, the response from agents has been incredible — they love being rewarded for their loyalty to the Viking brand,” she said.

Travel agents wishing to join Rewards by Viking can register here.